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Tote Bag Tutorial

This is one of the very first tutorials I put together! We posted it back when this blog was started before we had many followers. My totes continue to be something I use often so here’s the tutorial one more time for anyone who missed it the first time around.

You can scale the size up or down for whatever purpose you have in mind. I make two sizes generally. One is a small tote the same size as one of the paper Bath and Body Works bags you get at their stores. It’s great for a few toys, extra shoes, or even wrapping up a gift. The larger size is great for grocerices, farmer’s markets, extra toddler clothes/toys when going out for the day, as a beach bag, for a change of clothes for the gym or whatever else you can think of. It’s about the same size as a paper grocery bag.

For this pattern you’ll need an outer fabric and a liner fabric. I like at least one of the fabrics to be a heavier weight to help the bag hold it’s shape a little better. All seam allowances are 1/2″ unless otherwise noted.

1. Small size: Cut 15″ squares from both your outer and liner fabrics with the center fold of the fabric at the bottom of the square. (If you do it this way, you’ll be cutting through two layers of fabric and if you were to open it up, you would have a rectangle of 15″ x 30″.) At each of the bottom corners cut a rectangle 2 1/2″ tall by 3″ wide. If the fabric you’re using doesn’t allow you to have the center fold at the bottom you’ll cut two rectangles from both fabrics 15″ wide by 15 1/2″ tall, and your corners will be 3″ square.

Large size: Cut 20″ squares from both your outer and liner fabrics with the center fold of the fabric at the bottom of the square. (If you do it this way, you’ll be cutting through two layers of fabric and if you were to open it up, you would have a rectangle of 20″ x 40″.) At each of the bottom corners cut a rectangle 3″ tall by 3 1/2″ wide. If the fabric you’re using doesn’t allow you to have the center fold at the bottom you’ll cut two rectangles 20″ wide by 20 1/2″ tall, and your corners will be 3 1/2″ square.

2. For the outer fabric, put right sides together then stitch up the sides. Repeat with the liner fabric.

3. If you have a raw edge rather than a fold at the bottom, stitch that together.

4. Create the bottom of the bag by stitching the corners. See below for photo detail. You’ll stitch all 4 corners (the 2 for the outer fabric and the 2 for the liner).

5. Your outer fabric and liner should now look like this and you can iron the seams flat.

6. Now flip the outer fabric right side out, then nestle the liner inside.

7. Now pin along the bottom of the bag on the front and back, but not the sides. Stitch along the edge with a 1/8″ or 3/16″ seam allowance.

8. Fold the raw edges of the top of your bag in 1/2″ and pin. Also, tuck the straps about 1″ down in between the two fabrics and pin in place. I used these cotton straps from JoAnns but you could also make them out of a coordinating fabric. For the small bag each strap is 14″. Fot the large bag I wanted something I could carry by hand or over my shoulder so it’s 26″.

9. Now stitch around the top. Leave a 1/8″ seam allowance at the top and then sew a second seam 3/4″ down from the top. Then go back and put an X over each strap. Or if you don’t want to have to go back and do the Xs later, see the diagram below for the exact steps I followed.

10. Optional: If you want your tote to have a boxy shape, pin the 4 sides going straight up from each corner then stitch 1/8″ in from the edge like you did in step 7 around the bottom.

And now you’re all done! You should probably go shopping to test out your new bag.

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Great tutorial! I was looking to make a bag just like this a few weeks ago, and couldn’t find what I was looking for. So I just freelanced and made something else entirely. Next time I’ll come back here!

This is such an awesome tutorial! I am in desperate need of a new library bag for my kids and this looks like it would be a perfect fit for all of the books we drag home with us.. we are literally the librarians’ best friends! Thanks so much for sharing with the Pink Hippo Party! Can’t wait to see what you share next week!

I found your blog through Someday Crafts! Great job on your tote bag tutorial! I love making them as gifts… they come in handy and everyone always loves homemade goods! Please stop by Sew Woodsy and link up this project!

oh how cute! the fabric is what drew me in to click on this! great detailed tutorial. I love sewing but I hate doing sewing tutorials because I break all the rules lol. hopped over from blue cricket today!

THANKS! I’m new at sewing and just completed an awesome looking bag using plain canvas, this pattern, a very large machine embroidered nautical design and including a zippered pocket, a key holder and a front magnetic pocket. I’m really proud of myself!! THANKS AGAIN for such an awesome tutorial!

Just made 6 of these bags, and I learned to definitely use the fusible interfacing, makes the fabric sturdier and thus makes the bags easier for the clerk in the store to load, but whichever way you prefer the bags turn out great! Used the old plastic inserts from my old grocery bags to put in the bottom of my new ones. have had many compliments. thanks for the great tutorial!

I also wanted to mention since I used fabric that was on hand from my large stash, the lining of my bags were coordinating to the outside fabrics. when I found my lining fabric was short of the needed size, I cut two strips of other fabric and sewed them to the bottom length of the bag, then cut the squares out of the bottom for the corners. That way when looking at the bag, unless you peered into the very bottom you would not know there was any southern engineering going on! I have to say people will be getting these for presents, they are pretty and so many different fabric options are available. I have also used both the woven and the nylon strapping, both are good.

Promise one last thing here. I was looking at one of my old store bought bags and on the top lip of the bag (you would sew this in similar to the strapping) there is an elastic loop, which the store clerk can use to holf the bag to their plastic bag stand, which would make it even more utilitarian. I will be including those on my next round of bags.

Hello, love your tutorial ! Wish I would have found it before my own attempt, yikes, live and learn :0 are using canvas, or duck for lining and outside? Thank you so much! Trying to make last minute Christmas presents !

Hi Linda, I haven’t tried it before so I’m not sure how to go about doing that. I’d probably try ironing one of the Pellon fusible products to the back of the liner before sewing and assembling the bag. You’ll have to let us know if you figure it out!

Yours was the ONLY tutorial that I found which was for the kind of tote I was wanting to make! I am a pre-school music teacher, traveling to numerous child-care centers throughout the week. I needed an extra-extra-large tote for carrying around about 25 large puppets for the children to use during farm/barnyard songs. I could not find anything ready-made on-line, so knew I had to make it myself. Thank you so much for sharing your expertise!
Jane
Texas, USA

I have read tons of tutorials to make these kind of bags. This is by far the BEST TUTORIAL EVER. The pictures are so helpful. Thank you so much. Now that we need to bring bags when we shop I will be making lots of them . Thanks again.

This tutorial is one of the best. Very clear and love all of the comments from years gone by. Needed gifting ideas for a Thanksgiving gathering which will include a gift exchange instead of Christmas. Thanks for reposting as I missed it this first go round.